Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 11, 2016

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Amanda Cogan has stepped down as district secretary for Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. On: Lisa Goodson is Gaetz’s new district secretary. Off and on: Kevin Reilly has left the job of deputy staff director […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 11, 2016

The Education Access and Affordability Bill, HB 7019, got high marks from Gov. Rick Scott Friday, who said he would sign the bill. He said it will allow students to make “informed decisions” toward an “affordable, quality college education in Florida.” The bill “holds the line” on graduate school costs, and requires notification of required and […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2016

HD 59 Democratic candidate Rene Frazier says she’s running to become a member of the Florida Legislature because she’s tired of Tallahassee failing to address important issues. At the top of her list is the refusal to expand Medicaid. “We’ve had 800,00 Floridians without health care – 40,000 of them who are vets,” she says. “Several sessions […]

William MarchFebruary 21, 2016

A proposal to remove a statue of a Confederate leader at the National Statuary Hall is generating speculation among Florida legislators about whose image should replace it. Legislation to replace the statue of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith doesn’t propose a successor. Smith’s place in history is due to his being the last officer to surrender […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 11, 2016

A bill to replace a statue of a Confederate army general as one of Florida’s two entries in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall was passed by the Florida Senate Thursday. The Senate skipped debate and OK’d the bill (SB 310) by a vote of 33-7. That move, however, puts the two chambers at odds: A House version (HB […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 10, 2016

A House committee on Wednesday OK’d a legislative move to replace the statue of a Confederate army general as one of Florida’s two eminences in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall where it’s been since 1922. The House Economics Committee unanimously approved the proposal sponsored by Miami Republican Rep. Jose Felix Diaz to replace the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although Pasco County Republican John Legg’s bill in the Senate that would remove the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith from Florida’s place in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. advanced in committee on Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, in the immediate aftermath of the South Carolina Legislature voted […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although the Senate bill to remove the statue of a Confederate general from one of Florida’s two places in the National Statuary Hall Collection advanced in committee Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, after the South Carolina Legislature removed the Confederate battle flag from its statehouse grounds after a racist […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2016

Before the Republican leadership in the Florida Senate coronates John Legg as Jack Latvala‘s successor, it might want to check with former state Rep. Ed Hooper. On Tuesday, Hooper told FloridaPolitics.com that he has mailed his paperwork to the Florida Division of Elections making him a candidate for Latvala’s north Pinellas seat, which will be […]

Associated PressJanuary 17, 2016

A major ethics and anti-corruption bill that advocates say is long overdue – but critics say may go too far – faces a rocky path in the Legislature. The legislation seeks to end what a 2010 grand jury called a “corruption tax” on Florida citizens amounting to millions a year in extra taxes, government fees […]

Tag: John Legg
Lawsikia Hodges is joining the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell. Photo via Smith, Gambrell & Russell

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Education Access and Affordability bill gets high marks from Rick Scott

HD 59 aspirant Rene Frazier says she can bring people together if elected to serve in Tallahassee

Legislators speculate on great Floridian for Capitol statue

Senate OKs replacing Confederate general’s statue

Proposal to replace statue of Confederate general advances in Florida House

Proposal to remove Confederate Statue passes thru Senate Committee, but not without considerable debate

Proposal to remove Confederate statue passes through Senate panel after debate

Former lawmaker Ed Hooper filing to succeed Jack Latvala in state Senate

Anti-corruption bill faces rocky path in Legislature